The Ultimate Yukon Guide: Wilderness, Adventure and Aurora

Unconventional and untamed, Yukon is a paradise for the adventurous traveller seeking raw experiences and authentic cultural connections. From natural wonders and seasonal phenomena, such as the Northern lights to vibrant northern culture, vast wilderness and incredible wildlife, there is more than one reason to visit Yukon. Our ultimate guide explores what makes Yukon so special, the best time to visit, and the must-see places to include in your holiday to Yukon.

Why visit Yukon?

Visiting Yukon in Canada goes beyond its prolific Gold Rush history or seeing the iconic Northern Lights; “Canada’s Last Frontier” is a land of unspoiled and crowd-free wilderness with bucket loads of outdoor experiences for the adventurous traveller.

Here are just some of the top reasons why you should visit Yukon:

• Spectacular nature and landscapes – 80% of Yukon’s territory is a vast and untamed wilderness. The province is home to Canada’s highest peak, Mount Logan, massive non-polar glaciers, Arctic tundra, raging rivers, sand dunes, glacially carved canyons and valleys.
• Abundance of wildlife – thousands of moose, caribou, black bears, grizzly bears, and Dall sheep roam freely in Yukon’s mountains, forests and valleys. There is nothing quite like spotting these incredible mammals in their natural habitats.
• Scenic drives – from Alaska Highway to the legendary Dempster Highway crossing the Arctic Circle, Yukon’s roads are wide-open and crowd-free with incredible scenic views along the way.
• Unique natural phenomena – watch the dazzling Aurora Borealis in winter, witness the midnight sun that doesn’t set in summer, or surrender to the quiet majesty of the reds and golds of the Arctic tundra in autumn.
• Gold Rush History and Indigenous Culture – follow in the footsteps of the Klondike stampeders or learn about fascinating Indigenous legends, traditions, arts and crafts rooted in a long history spanning over 12,000 years.

Learn more in our detailed guide: What is Yukon famous for?

Places to visit and things to do in Yukon

While Yukon is known for its vast wilderness, many of its most spectacular regions are easier to reach than you might think. Although remote northern areas, such as Vuntut National Park and Ivvavik National Park, are only accessible via private bush planes; southern Yukon, including the capital city of Whitehorse, is within easy reach via regular commercial flights and excellent road network. It welcomes adventure travellers to retreat and reconnect with nature in one of the few remaining unspoiled corners on our planet.

Here are the top places to visit in Yukon and some of the best things to do on your holiday:

• Kluane National Park & Reserve – a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Yukon’s most-visited park. Home to Mount Logan (Canada’s highest mountain peak), St. Elias Icefields (massive icefield with over 2,000 glaciers), a vast network of rivers and dramatic valleys, and the world’s largest population of Dall sheep. Top activities include hiking (from day hikes to extreme multi-day, backcountry, route-finding adventures), flightseeing, wildlife viewing, camping, paddling at Kathleen Lake and rafting at Alsek River.
• Tombstone Territorial Park – this remote sub-arctic wilderness park is located along the legendary Dempster Highway, making it easily accessible by car. “Patagonia of the North”, as the park is famously known as, features jagged granite peaks, rare permafrost land formations, arctic tundra and incredible wildlife. It offers backcountry hiking and camping, along with few established road-accessible hiking trails and one front-country campground. The park is especially beautiful to visit between late August and early September because of the spectacular golds, oranges and reds of the fall foliage.
• Whitehorse – Yukon’s capital city is only 2 hours and 25 minutes from Vancouver by air. The vibrant frontier city acts as the main tourist hub to explore Yukon. It offers ample cultural and historic attractions and outdoor activities. Visit the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre for First Nations heritage, S.S. Klondike National Historical Site for gold-rush history, and Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre for Ice Age fossils and exhibits of mammoths.

Whitehorse is also the primary base for aurora viewing in winter, with ample guided tours on offer. Come summer, activities such as paddling the Yukon River, hiking the nearby Miles Canyon and mountain biking are among the top things to do in the city.

A signature experience on any holiday to Yukon is taking an iconic rail tour which follows the historic White Pass & Yukon Route between Whitehorse in Yukon and Skagway in Alaska.

Just 30-minute drive north of the city, the Yukon Wildlife Preserve is the place to visit for guaranteed sightings of moose, caribou, wood bison and more of the territory’s incredible wildlife.

• Dawson city – step back in time with a visit to the best-preserved Klondike Gold Rush town, featuring unpaved dirt streets, authentic wooden buildings and boardwalks and quirky local culture, such as the infamous Sourtoe Cocktail and Canada’s oldest one-room casino. Gold-panning and Northern Lights viewing tours are also available.
• Northern Lights viewing – Yukon is one of the world's top destinations for viewing the aurora borealis, with a long viewing season and spectacular displays of dancing lights across its dark northern skies. To learn all about this magical experience visit our detailed guide: The Northern Lights in Yukon - when, where and the best ways to see them
  

ALSO READ: Things to do in Yukon for adventure seekers

Best time to visit Yukon

The best time to visit the Yukon depends on the type of holiday and experiences you're hoping to enjoy. Here are the most popular times of the year and the top activities per season:

• Summer (June to August) is Yukon’s peak travel season for outdoor adventures. Daytime highs can reach up to 26°C and in June and July most of the Yukon Territory receives about 21 hours of sunlight, famously known as the midnight sun. Enjoy hiking, flightseeing, canoeing, kayaking, camping and road tripping.
• Early autumn (September) is spectacular fall foliage season in Yukon, with Tombstone Territorial Park offering picturesque landscapes of vivid golds, reds and oranges. Visiting Yukon in autumn also falls under the official aurora viewing season and travellers have great chances of seeing the elusive lights.
• Winter (November to March) is Yukon’s prime Northern Lights season, as the region enjoys its longest and darkest skies, and the perfect time to try activities such as dogsledding, snowshoeing, snowmobiling and ice-fishing.

Inspired? Contact our Canada Travel Experts today and we can tailor-make your dream trip to “Canada’s Last Frontier” with flights, accommodation and car/RV hire all included in the package.

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